Improvement in fire-place fronts



L. M. CHIPLEY.

`Fire-Place Fronts.

Patented Sept. 8,1874.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUOIEN M. CHIPLEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT |N FIRE-PLACE FRoNTs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 154,746, dated September 8, 1874 application filed January 10, 1874. I

To all whom it may concern.-

ABe it known `that I, LUCIEN M. OHIPLEY, of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new Vand useful Improvements in Fire-Place Fronts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

' of stops placed adjacent to the guides, upon which it moves. When in a xed position the latter front receives the first named under it, where it is retained by passing its catch over the flange on the edge of the upper front. Above the ,device last mentioned is fixed to the fire-place a top or third front, of such size and conformation as to receive the two lower fronts, and in which they are retained by passing the catch aforesaid over the flange on the lower edge of the top front.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient means of closing or exposing in whole or in part a fire place, and particularly a lireplace provided with a projecting grate, to which end the several fronts are bowed, so that they may be raised or lowered without coming in contact with thegra-te.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal central section of same. Fig. 4 is a detached view of portions of the front Dl and blower H.

A in the accompanying drawings ,is a chimney. B is the fire-place, provided with the casing a, to the upper part of which is secured, by lianges l) or in any other suitable manner, the front D, which is concavo-convex or arched,

having its convex surface protruding from.

the lire-place, while its upper portion may be provided with a recess or pocket to receive and retain the heat arising from below, the

lower outer portion of the front having a ridge, d, or other suitable means of `sustaining a catch. The front D' is movable vertically, being controlled in its movements by the guides F, secured upon the sides of the lireplace, and extending upward a proper distance, and also by the front D, within which the front D', except its extreme lower portion, ts smoothly when elevated. The front D', as in the present instance, may be provided on the inside, and near its lower edge, with the rests x, which serve to sustain the lianges z, which project outward, and on each side from the upper edge of the front or blower H, so that as the front D' is elevated the front H is carried upward. The front D" may also be provided with the lip y, which projects upward and outward from the center of its lowery edge, and passes under the spring-catch I on the blower H, serving to assist in retaining the latter in position. The front D' rests upon the lower outer edge of the front H, and is intended to descend to about a point opposite the position occupied by the upper bar of a grate as usually placed, a rest, h, being provided to sustain it in this position. The front or blower H is movable vertically between the guides F, and ts smoothly within the front D', except its extreme lower edge, whereon is provided the ridge e. The fronts D, D', and H are bowed, so that the two lower fronts, D' and H, have their central parts removedfrom the front of the fire-place, whereby they may be operated to inclose a grate that projects from the lire-place. The catch I is secured to the lower outer edge of the front or blower H, and as the blower is moved upward it is intended to slip over the ridges e or d, or both, and clasp against the metal ofthe fronts above, thus preventing their descent.

It is obvious that any desired number of parts may be used, which, by telescoping or closing into or upon each other, expose the fire-place, and, by being drawn down, close it, suitable rests being provided at the heights at which it is desired to sustain each front; and by this arrangement the extent of surface to be exposed can be exactly regulated. It is also obvious that the device can be used to condense the draft of the chimney, so that th'e'invention in this respectpossesses the function of a damper. `It may also be provided with' perforations, which, however, detracts from its utility as a damper, and may be provided with glass or other transparent or translucent windows, through which theV fire can be seen.

The operation of my invention is a follows: When it is desired to fully expose the fireplace, it is only necessary to slide up the front H until the catch I passes over the ridge d, whereby both the fronts D and H are suspended. To partially expose the fire-place, raise the clasp I, and allow the fronts D and H to descend until the former comes in contact with rest h, where both are held, the catch I sustaining the front H. When it is desired to close the fireplace, they device being in the 1ast-mentioned position, release the catch I, and allow the front H to descendto the hearth. To use the device as a damper or blower, it is only necessary to place something under the lower edge of the front H, so

as to prevent its coming in contact with the hearth.

I do not claim, broadly, a series of fronts .constructed to move vertically, for the purpose of closing, or partly closing, the front of a ireplace; but A y What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The front H, provided with the catch I, front D', and the front D, provided with the ridge d, in combination, for the uses and purposes shown and described. ,A

2. The front H, provided with the catch I, front D', provided with the ridge e, and the rest h, in combination, for the uses and purposes shown and described.

v In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvements in fire-place fronts, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

LUGIEN M. GHIPLEY. [L. s.] Witnesses:

H. L. WARREN, R. S. HALE. 

